The Journey

The Journey

by Erin Vick Franklin

This great gift I have been given

I am not worthy of

It's only by the wondrous grace

Of my Lord above.

So I wait upon you oh Lord

I do not want to fall

It's your will I desire

Only your will above all.

I know you have great plans for me

But I just feel so lost

What do you have in store for me?

I will go despite the cost.

It is me my sweet child

That you are yearning for

It is me who is your destiny

I am your great reward.

My plan is for you to know me

And to become just like my son

I promise to come back for you 

When all is said and done.

For now enjoy my presence

Lead others to my grace

Don't worry about tomorrow

Simply live life for today.

I Forgive

“I forgive the tears I was made to shed,
I forgive the pain and the disappointments,
I forgive the betrayals and the lies,
I forgive the slanders and intrigues,
I forgive the hatred and the persecution,
I forgive the blows that hurt me,
I forgive the wrecked dreams,
I forgive the stillborn hopes,
I forgive the hostility and jealousy,
I forgive the indifference and ill will,
I forgive the injustice carried out in the name of justice,
I forgive the anger and the cruelty,
I forgive the neglect and the contempt,
I forgive the world and all its evils.”


She lowers her arms, opens her eyes, and puts her hands to her face. I go over to embrace her, but she stops me with a gesture.
“I haven’t finished yet.”

She closes her eyes again and raises her face heavenward.

“I also forgive myself. May the misfortunes of the past no longer weigh on my heart. Instead of pain and resentment, I choose understanding and compassion. Instead of rebellion, I choose the music from my violin. Instead of grief, I choose forgetting. Instead of vengeance, I choose victory.

“I will be capable of loving, regardless of whether I am loved
in return,
Of giving, even when I have nothing,
Of working happily, even in the midst of difficulties,
Of holding out my hand, even when utterly alone and
abandoned,
Of drying my tears, even while I weep,
Of believing, even when no one believes in me.”

She opens her eyes, places her hands on my head, and says with an authority that comes from on high, “So it is. So it will be.”


Aleph by Paulo Coelho

Life's Little Instructions

Life's Little Instructions 

Sing in the shower.

Treat everyone you meet like you want to be treated.

Watch a sunrise at least once a year.

Leave the toilet seat in the down position.

Never refuse homemade brownies.

Strive for excellence, not perfection.

Plant a tree on your birthday.

Learn 3 clean jokes.

Return borrowed vehicles with the gas tank full.

Compliment 3 people every day.

Never waste an opportunity to tell someone you love them.

Leave everything a little better than you found it.

Keep it simple.

Think big thoughts but relish small pleasures.

Become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know.

Floss your teeth.

Ask for a raise when you think you've earned it.

Overtip breakfast waitresses.

Be forgiving of yourself and others.

Say, "Thank you" a lot.

Say, "Please" a lot.

Avoid negative people.

Buy whatever kids are selling on card tables in their front yards.

Wear polished shoes.

Remember other people's birthdays.

Commit yourself to constant improvement.

Carry jumper cables in your truck.

Have a firm handshake.

Send lots of Valentine cards.

Sign them, "Someone who thinks you're terrific."

Look people in the eye.

Be the first to say hello.

Use the good silver.

Return all things you borrow.

Make new friends, but cherish the old ones.

Keep a few secrets.

Sing in a choir.

Plant flowers every spring.

Have a dog. <Or cat :)>

Always accept an outstretched hand.

Stop blaming others.

Take responsibility for every area of your life.

Wave at kids on school busses.

Be there when people need you.

Feed a stranger's expired parking meter.

Don't expect life to be fair.

Never underestimate the power of love.

Drink champagne for no reason at all.

Live your life as an exclamation, not an explanation.

Don't be afraid to say, "I made a mistake."

Don't be afraid to say, "I don't know."

Compliment even small improvements.

Keep your promises no matter what.

Marry for love.

Rekindle old friendships.

Count your blessings.

Call your mother.

by H. Jackson Brown Jr.

Stuff

Stuff
they keep giving me more stuff
as if that will make me happy
as if stuff can fill this void
make my heart stop aching
it fills the room instead
frustrating me even more
keep your stuff please
let me have what I long for
give me home instead

Silver and Gold

These are my rings. They are not extravagant.
They do not sparkle with jewels, one is silver and one is gold.
They are well worn, scratched up, bent, and mishapen.
They are plain and simple, no self respecting thief would bother stealing them.
One was given with love and represents a vow I took ever so long ago "to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; until death do us part."
The other represents a lost treasure that when found was unwanted by anyone but me.
Sometimes I forget how precious they are, and view them as the world would see them, ordinary and nothing special. All it took to remind me was a tiny girl touching my hands and saying "pretty", because to her they are beautiful and amazing, unlike anything she's ever seen.

I think people are a lot like that. To the world they may seem ordinary and nothing special, but to God they are beautiful and amazing. What would happen if we saw everyone in our lives like God sees them? Even more amazing is what would happen if we treated them with love as the beautiful beings God created. Can you even imagine how incredible that would be? How many problems in this life would cease to exist if we treated others like God treats us? How many broken hearts and broken people could we heal? How many relationships could be mended if we treated the other person as being a precious gift to be cherished and not as something disposable, returnable, replaceable? I can only imagine. I have made that mistake before myself, it is something I will always regret.

The Paradoxical Commandments by Kent M. Keith

People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered.
Love them anyway.

If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Do good anyway.

If you are successful, you will win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.

The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.

Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.

The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds.
Think big anyway.

People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.
Fight for a few underdogs anyway.

What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.

People really need help but may attack you if you do help them.
Help people anyway.

Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you have anyway.


© Copyright Kent M. Keith 1968, renewed 2001

What would normal look like?

Sometimes I wish I could be normal just for a day.

I could express how I feel without pissing people off.
I could get things done quickly and efficiently.
I could feel confident enough to go places by myself like church or just for a walk.
I could walk into a store and not panic, because they moved everything around.
I could go where there are crowds of people and not get panicked.
I could sweep and mop the floors without hurting my back.
I could go up and down stairs without my knees bothering me.
I could be supportive without overdoing it.
I could spend time with my friends without worrying about being annoying.
I could express concern for others without acting overbearing.
I could hear people arguing without becoming anxious.
I could take criticism without it affecting my self worth.
I could go someplace without weird smells bothering me.
I could tolerate loud/weird sounds and music, without wanting to cover my ears.
I could wear scratchy sweaters and things with tags, without wanting to scratch my skin off.
I could think clearly and not be distracted by every little sound, movement, and shiny object.
I could tolerate overhead lights, without wanting to wear a hat.
I could tolerate messy rooms without wanting to hide.
I could fill out paperwork without feeling overwhelmed.
I could look in the mirror without seeing every flaw.
I could figure out how to be happy by myself.
I could talk to people without taking things literally.
I could stop obsessing about the future, and what may or may not happen,
and just enjoy the present.


I am not normal, I will never be normal, I can only ever be me.
However perhaps in time and with help, I could become a better me.